RCVS president, Linda Belton.

Professor Stephen May and Dr Kulin Patel awarded OBEs.

Two veterinary surgeons who have become Officers of the British Empire (OBEs) in the King’s Birthday Honours List have been congratulated by the RCVS.

Professor Stephen May, Emeritus Professor at the RVC, was recognised for his services to veterinary education and animals in science, while Dr Kulin Patel, veterinary Advisor for International Trade at DEFRA was recognised for his services to animal health and international trade.

RCVS president, Linda Belton MRCVS, said: “Huge congratulations to both Professor May and Dr Patel on this outstanding achievement. Thank you both for your extraordinary contributions to the veterinary profession during your careers, for which I would like to extend my appreciation on behalf of everyone at the RCVS.

“I would also like to extend congratulations to all those mentioned in the King’s Birthday Honours List for contributions to the veterinary world, animal health and welfare, and to the One Health concept more generally. We could not do the work we do without vital stakeholder collaboration, and it is fantastic to see outstanding individuals in the field being recognised for all they have contributed to our society.” 

Professor May served as RCVS President from 2017 to 2018 and has been actively involved in the work of the College for many years. 

While on Council, he spearheaded the Legislative Reform Working Group which developed the Legislative Reform Proposals – the blueprint for any future veterinary legislation. He was also pivotal in the development of the Graduate Outcomes Project, from which the Veterinary Graduate Development Programme was developed.

Another notable mention in the King’s Birthday Honours List is Rowland Kao, Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology and Data Science at the Roslin Institute within the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. 

Professor Kao was awarded Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to science and technology, specifically his work in mathematics and infectious disease dynamics.

Professor Kao, whose focus is on understanding the movement and spread of infectious diseases among and between populations of wildlife, livestock and people, said: “Physicists use mathematics but they also learn to respect the messiness of real world data – and that combination is ideal for helping us to understand the fundamental processes that drive how diseases spread and how to control them.”.

Grace Muir, founder and chief executive officer of Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation was awarded an OBE for services to charity, to animal welfare and to education. 

Image (C) RCVS.